CPS Honors Educators During Teacher and School Staff Appreciation Week 2026

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CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools (CPS) educators and school staff members work diligently to create the conditions necessary for student success and meaningful progress throughout the District. Their efforts contribute to improved academic success, from expanding preschool opportunities to a growing percentage of graduates who have earned early college credit and career credentials. The District will celebrate Teacher and School Staff Appreciation Week from Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8, to honor the extraordinary individuals who make these achievements possible.

In celebration of Teacher and School Staff Appreciation Week, CPS schools will host events to honor classroom staff dedicated to ensuring student success.

"As a former educator, I understand how everyone within a school community plays an integral part in ensuring our students thrive," said Dr.King. "CPS celebrates educators and school staff for their efforts to ensure our students are prepared to compete and collaborate as productive global citizens."

CPS employs 46,000 people and of those, 37,000 work within schools and more than 24,000 serve as teachers. The District also employs approximately 4,000 paraprofessionals and nearly 7,000 additional school-based staff. These employees work directly with students addressing their educational needs and beyond as outlined in the District's five-year strategic plan Success 2029: Together We Rise, to deliver equitable, high-quality learning experiences for every student.

District-wide and school-level events include special recognitions for teaching cohort graduations, awards for standout teachers, and celebrations sponsored by individual school communities.

CPS educators and staff regularly receive recognition from prestigious organizations nationwide for their dedication and excellence. In March, the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE) commended 63 CPS educators who earned their National Board Certification for the first time and 67 who renewed their certification within the past year.

In June, the District will host an induction ceremony for 2025-26 CPS Teacher Residents, marking their transition to lead classroom teachers. The inductees will include CPS Teacher Resident Edward Gardner who started at Arthur A. Libby Elementary School in the Back of the Yards neighborhood as a special education classroom assistant in 2008.

His return to school in 2024 to complete his bachelor's degree and become an English Language Arts (ELA) special education teacher fulfills a goal he set as a child.

"[The CPS Teacher Residency] program has given me the avenue to fulfill a lifelong goal, " Gardner said. "Now, as I prepare to graduate, I want my students to take away that no matter how old you are or what circumstances you are currently in, you can always fulfill your dreams. Continue to believe in yourself and finish."

Additionally, in February, Sharon Ponder-Ballard, a performing arts teacher at Washington Park's Carter School of Excellence, and a 2022 Golden Apple Award winner, received the 2026 Senator John W. Maitland Jr. Commitment to Education Award, which honors Illinois State University graduates in the education field.

"Outside of students, teachers are the most integral part of a school's ecosystem," said Ponder-Ballard. "I'm not in the teaching profession for the awards; I'm here because I want our students to succeed. However, it's nice to be recognized for the teaching career I've been blessed to build over the years. I appreciate the recognition from CPS, the National Board of Certified Teachers, The Golden Apple Foundation, and Illinois State University."

Each year, many CPS teachers across the district are honored with the Golden Apple Awards which celebrate educators who enhance educational opportunities for students. For the 2026 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching, more than 10 CPS teachers have been selected as finalists and winners will be named throughout this week and next.

In 2025, three CPS teachers received the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching:

• Nick Anaya, a 8th-12th-grade engineering and robotics teacher at Lindblom Math & Science Academy
• Victor Hurtado, a 11th and 12th grade Math teacher at Schurz High School
• Kathleen Mahoney, a 11th-12th-grade Special Education Civics teacher teacher at Lake View High School received the prestigious Golden Apple Award

CPS consistently recognizes the vital role teachers play in the success and well-being of the District's diverse school communities. Throughout the year, the District highlights educator voices through blog posts on the District's website, where staff share career journeys, offer advice to new teachers, and reflect on the lasting impact of their work.

"Our teachers and staff members are directly responsible for the academic gains made by District students over time. They deserve all the credit," said CPS Chief Education Officer Dr. Karime Asaf. "One week isn't enough time to celebrate our teachers and staff. However, recognizing their importance to school communities early and often is a strong indicator of the District's commitment to the people who guide our most important stakeholders: the students."

School community members are encouraged to show their appreciation for District teachers on social media using #ThankATeacher and #TheBestAreWithCPS. CPS alumni are also invited to share meaningful memories of the educators who made a lasting impact on their lives.